Latest news with #LudmilAlexandrov
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Higher Risk for Colorectal Cancer Linked to Bacteria
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scientists have identified a strong link between childhood exposure to a bacterial toxin called colibactin and the rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer, according to an international study published in Nature in April. The research, led by Professor Ludmil Alexandrov of the University of California, San Diego, analyzed nearly 1,000 colorectal cancer cases from 11 countries, pinpointing distinct DNA mutations in younger patients whose exposure likely occurred before age 10. Newsweek reached out to Alexandrov via email for comment. Why It Matters Colorectal cancer was once considered mostly a disease of older adults, but cases in people under 54 have surged by 11 percent over two decades, now comprising one in five diagnoses in the United States and other high-income countries. Many younger patients lack the typical risk factors—such as family history, obesity, or sedentary lifestyle—prompting new urgency to understand hidden environmental contributors. The study's findings show how early microbial exposure can leave a "time bomb" of mutations, a report by UC San Diego said, fundamentally changing our understanding of cancer risk and offering potential for early detection or prevention strategies that could save lives as rates keep rising. A concept image depicting colon cancer. A concept image depicting colon cancer. Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen/Getty What To Know The study found that people under 40 were three to five times more likely to have colibactin-specific genetic changes than older adults with cancer, suggesting childhood bacteria could dramatically accelerate cancer risk. The research spotlighted colibactin, a genotoxin produced by certain strains of E. coli, a common gut bacterium. Colibactin acts as a so-called "weapon system" for bacteria competing in the intestinal environment and has been shown to damage the DNA of nearby human cells, initiating genetic changes that can progress to cancer, Alexandrov said in a report by NPR. Not all individuals carrying colibactin-producing bacteria develop cancer. Research shows that around 20 to 30 percent of the population harbors these strains, but their effect depends on factors such as the composition of a person's microbiome, dietary habits, and the presence of other environmental triggers. While the study identifies a significant association, causality has not been definitively established. Experts said other components, including rates of cesarean births, breastfeeding, antibiotic usage, and the consumption of highly processed foods, could impact the gut microbiome and the risks posed by bacteria like E. coli. Colibactin-linked cancers are also more common in the U.S. and Western Europe, where a higher frequency of risk factors, from dietary habits heavy in red meat to widespread antibiotic use, could be at play. Researchers are exploring whether probiotics that displace colibactin-producing strains might lower risk, and work is underway to develop stool tests that detect colibactin-related mutations as an early warning tool. Experts recommend traditional lifestyle measures such as maintaining a Mediterranean-style diet, regular activity, and not smoking, while urging awareness of early symptoms like abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or rectal bleeding. What People Are Saying Study author Professor Ludmil Alexandrov said in a report by SciTechDaily: "If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60." Marcos Díaz-Gay, a co-author of the study, told UC San Diego Today: "Our original goal was to examine global patterns of colorectal cancer to understand why some countries have much higher rates than others. But as we dug into the data, one of the most interesting and striking findings was how frequently colibactin-related mutations appeared in the early-onset cases." What Happens Next Researchers plan to further investigate how children become exposed to colibactin-producing bacteria, evaluate the impact of environmental and dietary factors, and develop early detection tests.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists discover unexpected factor that could increase cancer risk in children: 'Cancer could potentially be influenced by events in early life'
Researchers have discovered that childhood exposure to a bacterial toxin may lead to early-onset colorectal cancer. Once considered a disease primarily affecting adults over 50, higher rates of this cancer type in younger people have alarmed the medical community and the public. Additionally concerning is that the toxin could see surges tied to changes in our planet's climate, with risks of increased prevalence as global temperatures rise. As UC San Diego Today reported in late April, a new study from an international research team has determined that exposure to the bacterial toxin colibactin early in life may be to blame for the rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults. The toxin colibactin is produced by some strains of Escherichia coli. Also known as E. coli, the bacteria lives in the intestines and is a common cause of food and water contamination. Researchers looked at 981 colorectal cancer genomes. The patients studied were from 11 different countries, had different risk factors, and experienced both early- and late-onset of the disease. Scientists found that "colibactin leaves behind specific patterns of DNA mutations that were 3.3 times more common in early-onset cases (specifically in adults under 40) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70," per UC San Diego Today. There was also a positive relationship between the countries with a higher number of colorectal cancer cases in younger people and the presence of these mutations. The findings, published in the journal Nature, showed that colibactin's damaging effects may silently begin early in a person's life. Colibactin-producing bacteria that enter a child's body may grow inside the colon and cause molecular changes in their DNA, putting them at risk for colorectal cancer decades earlier than has been typical. "It might not be just about what happens in adulthood—cancer could potentially be influenced by events in early life, perhaps even the first few years," said Ludmil Alexandrov, senior author on the study. "Sustained investment in this type of research will be critical in the global effort to prevent and treat cancer before it's too late." These findings may prove invaluable in addressing the rise of cancer in younger people, an unexpected colorectal cancer patient population until recently. But, while the research didn't focus on environmental concerns, it could also raise questions about how our changing climate might increase health risks. Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Climate shifts can increase the spread of colibactin-producing E. coli. Higher temperatures can be conducive to bacterial growth. Meanwhile, heavy rains and flooding can drive water contamination by flushing surface-level pollutants into farms and water supplies and by overwhelming sewage systems. Higher amounts of E. coli contamination following extreme weather events could create higher levels of colibactin exposure. The threats could be even greater in low- and middle-income countries lacking sufficient infrastructure for clean water. A range of toxins in our environment have posed problems for some time. For example, "forever chemicals" in household goods and water systems are already considered a public health concern — now scientists and lawmakers are working on ways to address the issue. To learn more about connections between colibactin and colorectal cancer, researchers want to understand how children are being exposed and how to prevent that exposure. They are testing hypotheses and exploring whether probiotics can eliminate this harmful bacteria. They are also working on early-detection tests to check for colibactin-related mutations. Individuals can help support scientific research like this by advocating for policies that prioritize pro-environment studies and protections. You can also take action where you live and donate directly to organizations and projects you care about to build upon the efforts of groundbreaking discoveries that impact everyday lives. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Discover Childhood Exposure to Common Bacteria May Trigger Early Colon Cancer
As a mother, hearing about rising cancer rates in young people is deeply concerning, but new research offers crucial insight into why colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting younger generations. Scientists have discovered that early childhood E. coli colon cancer connections may be stronger than previously understood. A groundbreaking study published in Nature reveals that exposure to colibactin, a toxin produced by certain strains of E. coli bacteria, before age 10 could dramatically accelerate the development of colorectal cancer later in life. This finding may explain the alarming trend of colorectal cancer diagnoses in people under 50, which have been increasing by 2.4% annually according to the American Cancer Society. Related: The research team, led by Professor Ludmil Alexandrov from UC San Diego, examined nearly 1,000 colorectal cancer genomes and found a distinct genetic fingerprint left by colibactin. This mutation signature was 3.3 times more common in patients with early-onset colon cancer compared to those diagnosed later in life. "If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old," Alexandrov explained, "they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60." For parents, this research underscores the importance of understanding potential early childhood E. coli colon cancer risks. While not all E. coli strains produce colibactin, those that do can cause genetic mutations that may initiate cancer development years before symptoms appear. Related: Diet appears to play a significant role in this process. A separate study from the National Library of Medicine found that Western-style diets rich in red and processed meats and sugar increased the risk of colorectal cancer containing high amounts of the toxin-producing E. coli bacteria. This discovery "reshapes how we think about cancer," according to Alexandrov. "It might not be just about what happens in adulthood—cancer could potentially be influenced by events in early life, perhaps even the first few years." While more research is needed, these findings highlight the importance of childhood nutrition and gut health in preventing cancer decades later. For families, focusing on balanced diets lower in processed meats and added sugars may help reduce exposure to harmful bacteria strains associated with these genetic mutations. Up Next:
The Star
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
An E. coli link to bowel cancer in younger patients
Scientists have found a possible link between a common bacteria and early-onset colorectal cases. — Positive Parenting A toxin produced by Escherichia coli may be driving rates of bowel cancer in young people, scientists have discovered. Experts believe the finding could help explain why rates of bowel cancer are rising among young people across the globe. The bacterial toxin – called colibactin – is capable of altering DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and is produced by a strain of E. coli , though not the strain linked to infections that cause diarrhoea in some people. Researchers found that exposure to colibactin in early childhood imprints a genetic signature on the DNA of bowel cells, which may then increase the risk of developing bowel cancer before the age of 50. Work has been ongoing to discover why more younger people are developing bowel cancer, with experts believing that poor diet, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise play a role. This latest study was led by scientists from the University of California, San Diego, (UCSD) in the United States, funded by Cancer Research UK's Grand Challenge and published in the journal Nature . The researchers examined 981 colorectal (bowel) cancer genomes from patients with both early and late-onset disease in 11 different countries. They found that colibactin can leave behind specific patterns of DNA mutations that are 3.3 times more common in early-onset bowel cancer cases (for the study, this was in adults aged under 40 years) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70. These mutation patterns were also particularly common in countries with a higher rate of early-onset bowel cancer. Study senior author and Grand Challenge Mutographs team member Professor Dr Ludmil Alexandrov said: 'These mutation patterns are a kind of historical record in the genome, and they point to early-life exposure to colibactin as a driving force behind early-onset disease.' Study first author and former UCSD postdoctoral researcher Dr Marcos Diaz-Gay shared: 'When we started this project, we weren't planning to focus on early-onset colorectal cancer. 'Our original goal was to examine global patterns of colorectal cancer to understand why some countries have much higher rates than others. 'But as we dug into the data, one of the most interesting and striking findings was how frequently colibactin-related mutations appeared in the early-onset cases.' The study also found that colibactin-related mutations account for around 15% of what are known as APC driver mutations – some of the earliest genetic alterations that directly promote cancer development – in bowel cancer. 'If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60,' Prof Alexandrov said. 'Our research has allowed us to generate the hypothesis that the presence of colibactin leads to an increased number of mutations in colon cells, which then causes a greater risk of colorectal cancer at an early age,' said Mutographs team lead and Britain's Wellcome Sanger Institute senior group leader Prof Sir Dr Mike Stratton. 'If this turns out to be correct, we can explore preventive measures such as tests that tell us if the toxin, or the bacterium that makes it, is present, and finding ways to eliminate them from our bodies at a young age. 'We know that diet and lifestyle choices drive the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but this study has opened up a new and exciting route we can take when researching how to lower the rate of early-onset colorectal cancer.' – By Jane Kirby/PA Media/dpa
India Today
02-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Could childhood bacteria be driving colon cancer in millennials?
Childhood exposure to a bacterial toxin in the colon may be triggering the increase in colorectal cancer cases among younger patients, a new study considered a disease of older adults, colorectal cancer is now on the rise among young people in at least 27 countries. Its incidence in adults under 50 has roughly doubled every decade for the past 20 for clues as to why, the researchers analyzed genes of 981 colorectal cancer tumors from patients with varying colorectal cancer risk levels who had early- or late-onset disease in 11 countries. DNA mutations in colon cells that are known to be caused by a toxin produced by Escherichia coli, called colibactin, were 3.3 times more common in adults who developed colon cancer before age 40 than in those diagnosed after age patterns of mutations are thought to arise when children are exposed to colibactin before age 10, researchers reported in mutation patterns were particularly prevalent in countries with a high incidence of early-onset cases.'If someone acquires one of these... mutations by the time they're 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60,' study leader Ludmil Alexandrov of UC San Diego said in a every environmental factor or behavior we study leaves a mark on our genome,' said Alexandrov. 'But we've found that colibactin is one of those that can. In this case, its genetic imprint appears to be strongly associated with colorectal cancers in young adults.'The researchers have found other mutational signatures in colorectal cancers from specific countries, particularly Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Russia and suggests that local environmental exposures may also contribute to cancer risk, they said.'It's possible that different countries have different unknown causes,' study co-author Marcos Diaz-Gay of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in Madrid said in a statement.'That could open up the potential for targeted, region-specific prevention strategies.'
